Hauraki District Council Road Safety Committee Meeting Held on Tuesday 19 August 2008 Be Taken As Read and Confirmed
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1 HAURAKI DISTRICT COUNCIL ROAD SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE HAURAKI DISTRICT ROAD SAFETY COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT THE HAURAKI DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICE, WILLIAM STREET, PAEROA, ON TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2009 AT 1.00PM. PRESENT: Cr G A Harris (in the Chair), Cr J Thorp, His Worship the Mayor, J P Tregidga (from 2.15pm), D Gilbertson and J Bowers (OPUS International), I Le Fevre (Eastern Waikato - Road Safety Co-ordinator), M Davison (NZTA), A McKillop (NZTA), G Masters (NZ Road Transport Association), B McMaster (Environment Waikato), Mr G Thomsen (HDC Roading Manager), E Gower (Paeroa Grey Power), K Trembath (Hauraki-Coromandel Federated Farmers Assoc.), A Fosberry (GHD Limited) and Ms C Black (Council Secretary) APOLOGIES: RESOLVED THAT the apologies of Cr T J Meyers, Cr D E Challis, M Te Wharau and J Wilson be received and sustained. Davison/Thorp CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF TUESDAY 19 AUGUST 2008 RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the Hauraki District Council Road Safety Committee meeting held on Tuesday 19 August 2008 be taken as read and confirmed. Trembath/Masters HAURAKI DISTRICT COUNCIL ROAD SAFETY REPORT APRIL 2009 (CR HARRIS) (477628) MINOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2008/2009 The HDC Roading Manager presented a summary of the 2008/09 minor safety improvements. The Roading Manager highlighted the roading remedial work required following the drought period over summer. Tender contract is out for this work. It is envisaged that this remedial work will be commencing soon. Netherton Turnoff SH2 Gary Masters of the NZ Road Transport Association asked when the remedial work will be completed at the Netherton turnoff on SH2. Darren Gilbertson updated on the remedial work involved at this location. He advised that trees have been removed from the road reserve. He highlighted the issue concerning shelterbelts being planted close to road reserve boundaries on state highways. Council policy states that no shelter belt is to be planted within 10m from the road reserve boundary. There have been a number of areas along the state highway where trees have grown under the road the seeking water over the drought period resulting in cracks to seal. Cr Thorp raised his concern regarding the poor condition of the seal in Thorp Road. The Roading Manager continued with his report. FRED_n485937_v1_Road_Safety_Cttee_Minutes_-_21_April_2008.doc 2 He reported that further to the report presented during the previous meeting all projects have been designed. The planned total expenditure is currently $443,245 whilst the agreed Minor Improvements budget is $440,160. This is a satisfactory result. There is urgency in having these designs constructed prior to the end of June 2009. In terms of procurement: - the lighting upgrades have been tasked to Northpower and they have commenced works. - a contract has been drafted which includes the 3 intersection upgrades. This contract will be publically tendered shortly. MINOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2009/2010 Onwards Council have recently approved reducing the minor improvement budget for future years by approximately $200,000 annually. This change halts all future streetlight upgrades until such time funding becomes available. The impact of this decision is considered minor as currently no safety incidents reported over the last five years has been the result of poor lighting within the District. NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY (NZTA) - ROAD SAFETY UPDATE Andrew McKillop tabled and presented the Road Safety Update report on behalf of the NZ Transport Agency. RESOLVED THAT the report be received. Thorp/Bowers Mr McKillop distributed the NZTA’s ‘Stepping Forward’ newsletter to the Committee members for their information. The newsletter outlined the three year Draft Regional Land Transport Programmes. The Regional Land Transport Committees have adopted their draft regional land transport programmes. Consultation is being carried out in April. Production of the programmes is on track for adoption and publication by September 2009. The newsletter also outlined matters concerning Public Transport and Community Transport Fund Approvals. Mr McKillop advised that the ‘Stepping Forward’ newsletters are available on the internet at: http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/funding/stepping-forward/index.html. Matters under consideration by NZTA: - Traffic volume through the Karangahake Gorge. - Alternative route being considered - SH29 (over Kaimai Range) instead of SH2. - Strategy study for SH29 and SH2 has been carried out. - Design work is underway for Cambridge By pass due to congestion of the state highway at peak times. NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY (NZTA) - ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME John Bowers presented the report on the Road safety improvement programme. RESOLVED THAT the report be received. Thorp/McKillop Alignment Improvements: ¾ Passing lanes completed near Samson Road, Waihi ¾ Simmonds Straight FRED_n485937_v1_Road_Safety_Cttee_Minutes_-_21_April_2008.doc 3 ¾ Whiritoa Hill ¾ Waimata realignment is a planned work yet to be approved. Intersection Improvements: ¾ Dean Crescent, Waihi ¾ Hubbard Road, Paeroa Line Marking: East Waikato Audio Tactile lines (noise bumps) for: ¾ SH2 - Waihi to Katikati ¾ Mangatarata to Kopu Investigations have found that the installation of ‘audio tactile markings’, which create a vibrating sound when vehicle makes contact with them, has reduced crash numbers relating to crossing the centre line and edge lines . Also, guard rails on bridges have reduced seriousness of injuries. Te Kopua (Nelsons bridge) guard rail upgrading south of Kaihere, SH27. Kopu Bridge is an upcoming project. Electronic signs are to be installed in Karangahake Gorge EASTERN WAIKATO - ROAD SAFETY CO-ORDINATORS REPORT The Roading Manager introduced Ingrid Le Fevre to the Committee. Ingrid replaces Alison Ruru in the role of Eastern Waikato - Road Safety Co-ordinator. Ingrid advised that she is based in Thames and has an office at the Thames-Coromandel District Council. RESOLVED THAT the report be received. Thorp/Davison Ingrid provided an overview of her first 8 weeks in her role as the East Waikato Road Safety Co- ordinator (RSC). Schools - Working with Waihi East School and Paeora Christian School in conjunction with the Roading Manager to enhance the areas surrounding the schools by way of signage. Playing Cards - These have been going as a give aways. The cards have four fatigue messages on them and have proven to be very popular. Customer Services - Looking at utilising the counters at all 3 Councils and Libraries for giveaways at high peek times such as Rates payment time. Driving Towards the Future - This road show is currently being scheduled in all the district High Schools as well as schools that have been identified as having a significant alcohol problem. Plunket - Looking to contract an approved ACC provider to visit all Playcentres within East Waikato. Ruben the Road Safety Bear - Environment Waikato has Ruben the Road Safety Bear who is free to use. I am looking to have Ruben come into the 3 districts for up to a week at a time. Safe ‘t’ Shell – These are bright school bag covers to heighten visibility. These are to be used across the district. Bikewise Week - Assisted Alison Ruru on the Thames Bikewise breakfast. There were eight events across the 3 districts. Paeroa was run by Sport Waikato and did not have the uptake they would have liked. Fatal Vision Goggles - At the next Road Safety meeting the members will be invited to come in and have an active demonstration of the ‘fatal vision goggles’. End of May this is being run in house at Thames-Coromandel District Council within the Service Delivery area. FRED_n485937_v1_Road_Safety_Cttee_Minutes_-_21_April_2008.doc 4 Road Safety Co-ordinator Training - Attending the upcoming TRAFINZ Conference to be held in Auckland in September. Had an excellent meeting with the RSC in Franklin District Council and upcoming meetings with other RSC's in Taupo and Tauranga. Community Funding - Advertised in the 3 local newspapers for groups to apply for funding for 08/09 and 09/10. Walking School Bus A very successful walking bus is running in Matamata Primary School. Children are escorted from drop off points and walked to school over busy roads. The Mayor attended the meeting at 2.15pm. WALKING & CYCLING STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (CR HARRIS) (479129) The Roading Manager presented a report which provided an update of the development of the Walking and Cycling Strategy. RESOLVED THAT the report be received. McKillop/Davison The report provided an update for members to comment on activities that related to the development of the strategy and the confirmation of appropriate targets which will provide the foundation for the Key Performance Indicators which will drive the strategy. The Roading Manager introduced to the Committee Ms Ann Fosberry, who is the representative from GHD Limited; the company contracted to carry out the strategy for the Hauraki District Council. Ms Fosberry provided the Committee with a summary of development of the Hauraki District Walking and Cycling Strategy to date. On the subject of bike helmets, Ms Fosberry stated it has been found that teenagers generally do not like to wear helmets. There has been an increase in putting car registration ‘on hold’ because people are opting to use their bikes more. There has also been a notable increase in the use of mobility scooters. Mr Gower, the Grey Power representative raised a concern from Grey Power members on the dangers of using pedestrian crossing on mobility scooters, particularly adjacent to intersections. Mr Gower was advised that the Automobile Association have safety information to help mobility scooter users. Ms Fosberry invited the members to contact her at any time with any ideas they had which they considered should be incorporated into the strategy. Targets Implementation of targets to be met to promote the strategy, i.e. the holding of school-based training programmes for cycling and specific cycling and walking events. Regular Events to be held in schools - Project Energise and Sport Waikato’s involvement in these events is important. Ann suggested that advertisements go into the local newspapers to promote the walking and cycling strategy in the district.